[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of Oregon:
  S. 2041. A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Willow 
Lake Natural Treatment System Project for the reclamation and reuse of 
water, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.


                      the willow lake project act

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, today I am introducing 
legislation to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate 
in the design, planning and construction of the Willow Lake Natural 
Treatment System Project for the reclamation and reuse of water by the 
city of Salem, Oregon. This project is an innovative approach to an 
ongoing sewer overflow problem. It will not only provide environmental 
benefits for the city and the Willamette Valley, but could also provide 
irrigation water for the local farming community.
  This natural treatment system is one component of the city's recently 
adopted Wastewater Master Plan. Currently, the city has a combined 
sanitary sewer system. Unfortunately, each winter season during the wet 
weather, sewer overflows spill into Salem-area creeks and streams, as 
well as the Willamette River.
  The proposed natural treatment system, working in conjunction with 
the city's wastewater treatment plant, will provide Salem with the 
ability to meet regulatory requirements by storing and treating all 
wastewater from Salem's sewer system and significantly reducing wet 
weather sewer system overflows. The finished system will meet Oregon 
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) standards, and be fully 
operational by 2010. Although the specific site has not yet been 
selected, I am hopeful that any land needed for the project will be 
acquired on a willing buyer-willing seller basis.
  The natural treatment system proposed includes both overland flow 
treatment and constructed wetlands treatment. The overland flow system 
will include grassy swales and poplar trees to provide a high level of 
wastewater treatment. The constructed wetlands will include shallow 
ponds with wetland-type vegetation, and provide both treatment and 
storage. This system will be capable of producing between 10 and 20 
million gallons per day of high quality effluent during the summer 
months that could potentially be used as a source of irrigation water 
for the farming community in the area. A separate feasibility study 
will have to be conducted before a determination is made on whether to 
use this water for irrigation purposes. Any application of this water 
would have to be in accordance with state water quality standards and 
the requirements of the food processing industry.
  This bill would authorize the Secretary to participate in this 
project under the Bureau of Reclamation's existing Title XVI water 
reuse program. This program requires a feasibility study for all 
projects authorized, and caps the federal cost-share of the 
construction costs. Under the Title XVI program, the city would have 
title to the project, and be responsible for all operation and 
maintenance costs.
  This project will provide multiple benefits for the environment. It 
will naturally treat wastewater, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, 
improve water quality in Salem-area streams and the Willamette River, 
and reduce wintertime sewer system overflows. As water supplies tighten 
throughout the western United States, we need to look at innovative, 
cost-effective programs such as this to reuse water as efficiently as 
possible.
  I urge my colleagues to support enactment of this legislation, and 
will ask for its timely consideration by the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the 
bill printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2041

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION. 1. WILLOW LAKE NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
     Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 1631, 1632, and 1633 as 
     sections 1632, 1633, and 1634, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 1630 the following new 
     section 1631:

     ``SEC. 1631. WILLOW LAKE NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Salem, Oregon, is authorized to participate in 
     the design, planning, and construction of the Willow Lake 
     Natural Treatment System Project to reclaim and reuse 
     wastewater within and without the service area of the City of 
     Salem.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of a project described in 
     subsection (a).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--That Act is further amended--
       (1) in section 1632 (43 U.S.C. 390h-13) (as redesignated by 
     subsection (a)(1)), by striking ``section 1630'' and 
     inserting ``section 1631'';
       (2) in section 1633(c) (43 U.S.C. 390h-14) (as so 
     redesignated), by striking ``section 1633'' and inserting 
     ``section 1634''; and
       (3) in section 1634 (43 U.S.C. 390h-15) (as so 
     redesignated), by striking ``section 1632'' and inserting 
     ``section 1633''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act 
     of 1992 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 
     1631 through 1633 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 1631. Willow Lake Natural Treatment System Project.
``Sec. 1632. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 1633. Groundwater study.
``Sec. 1634. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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